June Davies, Green Party, Durham

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I'm not sure.

Comments:
Most importantly for me is the health background information necessary for anticipating potential health risks to which the adopted adult may be predisposed. I am not aware of the initial confidentiality agreement to which the birth parent(s) agreed. I am assuming that confidentiality can still be maintained to the degree necessary while pertinent health information is accessible.

I am interested in the other arguments for and against this issue.

John O'Toole, Progressive Conservative Party, Durham

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

Generally, I would answer yes. That being said, I do have concerns over rare cases when extenuating circumstances may favour not disclosing this information. There are also concerns over previous commitments of confidentiality that may have been given to parents when their children were adopted. These matters must also be considered in the light of the recent court decision regarding access to records under new adoption disclosure legislation.